Jason, Evan, Tom, and the Wizard take on the Kentucky Derby, analyzing the pace scenario, noting the horses with wet-track pedigrees, and making their picks. Insight into the pedigrees of this year's Kentucky Derby contenders is only a click away. Kentucky Derby 135 Contenders: Pedigree Profiles includes pedigree analyses from Alan Porter, Avalyn Hunter, and Tom Hall. Order your copy today!
Lenny Shulman talks with Bob Baffert, trainer of Pioneerof the Nile.
Apprentice jockey Anna Roberts recorded her first career riding victory April 29 at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino when she booted home 3-2 race favorite King of Mardi Gras in the evening's ninth race.
Acting Lady, Mrs Kipling, Pasar Silbano and Burg Berg, the first four finishers in that order in the Providencia Stakes (gr. IIT) at one mile on the Santa Anita turf April 4, meet again in the $100,000 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park May 3.
Diamond Diva, last seen winning the CashCall Mile (gr. IIT) July 5, returns to the Hollywood Park turf course to defend her crown in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) on May 2.
Customers of TVG will be able to wager on the Churchill Downs spring meet beginning May 1, it was announced in the early evening of April 30. The limited-term deal also includes wagering on the 2009 Arlington Park meet and Calder Race Course meet through Oct. 31.
Street Sense was the first Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to win the Ketucky Derby, and the first 2-year old champion to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid.
Trainer Wesley Ward, who had recent success with 2-year-olds at the Keeneland spring meet, continued his hot steak with Aegean and Jealous Again when the fillies ran one-two in the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile (gr. III) April 30 at Churchill Downs.
While the focus of the racing world is on Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, Belmont Park is offering a program that includes three graded stakes May 2.
There's a new president in town, and a Congress even more dominated by Democrats, but one of the nation's top lobbyists for equine interests said April 30 that the horse industry must be ever-diligent about protecting and advancing its positions in Washington, D.C.
Lenny and Steve are on the backside at Churchill Downs, where they discuss the Derby Draw, the many feel-good stories in this year's Derby, interview Papa Clem's trainer Gary Stute, and last but not least, give their picks for the big race.
After Summer Bird's solid third-place finish in the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. II), his connections decided to enter the colt in the Run for the Roses. His trainer, Tim Ice, just opened his stable last year.
A year and a half after Kentucky Education Television received a $2.25 million endowment to film a documentary called "The Thoroughbred," the project was in full swing during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs.
Veteran 54-year-old jockey Roberto Gonzalez will be sidelined indefinitely after breaking the C-2 vertebrae in his neck and his left ankle in a spill at Golden Gate Fields April 29.
Big Brown, who is standing his first season at Three Chimneys, was last year’s Triple Crown hopeful, as he won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Going off in the Derby as the 2-1 favorite, he became the first horse since 1929 to win the race from the 20th gate. Though he fell short in the Belmont Stakes, and had to be retired due to a back foot injury, he still closed out his career with the title of champion 3-year-old male. Read Esther Marr's blog Visiting with Past Kentucky Derby Winners.
Insight into the pedigrees of this year's Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders is only a click away. This easy-to-read report includes pedigree analyses from Alan Porter, Avalyn Hunter, and Tom Hall. Order your copy today and separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Dan Silver has been named director of communications and media relations, the New York Racing Association announced April 30.
The big day is almost here. No, not the Derby; having to make selections, which will be in Friday's column. These selections are based primarily on observations over the past eight days, and it's going to be particularly difficult this year. In the meantime, he are a few late odds and ends.
Seventeen horses have reached the final declaration stage for the 2009 renewal of the stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), the opening Classic of the season run over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on May 2.
In the opinion of her breeder and co-owner, Dolphus Morrison, Kentucky Oaks morning-line favorite Rachel Alexandra "could have been competitive" in the Run for the Roses, but he said he "didn't have a fleeting thought" of running her against the boys.
A "benchmark report" on slot machines in Pennsylvania shows a 39.3% increase in purses paid at Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks from 2007 to 2008, but double-digit declines in total pari-mutuel handle during the same period.
Baird C. Brittingham, a former chairman and president of Delaware Park, died March 2 in a Baltimore hospital.
For the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Lukas has not one, not two, but three fillies that are looking to take the lilies from overwhelming favorite Rachel Alexandra...or at least get a whiff of them by checking in second, third, or even fourth.
Although the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 1 got an added dose of excitement when trainer John Shirreffs announced 2008 champion older female Zenyatta would make her 5-year-old debut in the Louisville Distaff (gr. II), the talented Street Cry mare may be forced to scratch due to weather.
Alan Porter takes a closer look at Desert Party and Regal Ransom, the pair of Dubai-based horses in this year's Kentucky Derby.
Alabama Nana, a New York graded stakes winner, died April 29 because of complications from the infirmities of old age.
In 51 of the last 54 runnings of the Kentucky Derby, the winner was either on the lead with an eighth of a mile to go in the race, within a length of the lead, or running second although more than a length off the leader at that point. In all, 40 of the last 54 winners, or 74%, were on the lead at the eighth pole.
In an "old school" move, trainer Gary Stute sent out his Papa Clem for a three-furlong blowout at Churchill Downs two days before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Under jockey Rafael Bejarano, the son of Smart Strike threw down a :34 clocking.
As you handicap this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), you better ask yourself not only who can get a mile and a quarter, but who can do so on an off track.
The Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) isn't just about the horse. This edition boasts an unusually fertile crop of human-interest stories in the connections behind the horses.
Lenny Shulman reports from the Churchill Downs paddock. Today's headlines include Papa Clem's 3 furlong breeze, Rachel Alexandra,Friesan Fire and Pioneerof the Nile making appearances, and also the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Street Sense, who was named champion 2-year-old colt after capturing the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, became the first winner of that race to also take the Kentucky Derby. He was also the first champion 2-year-old colt to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979. Street Sense went on to win that year’s Travers Stakes and finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. His breeding rights were purchased by the Maktoum family’s Darley operation and he is now standing at Darley’s Jonabell Farm near Lexington. His first foals were born this year.Read Esther Marr's blog Visiting with Past Kentucky Derby Winners.
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